What's new from Ctrip

• Prime Minister Wen Jiabao praises innovation during Ctrip visit

  July 6, 2008, China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao visited the Shanghai headquarters of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. as part of his economic tour of Shanghai. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Secretary of the Municipal Communist Committee Yu Zhensheng and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng.
  
  Wen attended a presentation on Ctrip and China's online travel service industry given by Ctrip CEO Fan Min and he visited the Ctrip call center, the largest in Asia's travel industry. Wen praised Ctrip for its innovative service model, which has helped make the company the most successful online travel service company in China.
  
  Ctrip has successfully integrated high technology with traditional travel industry services and products, allowing it to provide comprehensive services covering hotel and flight reservations, vacation package bookings, corporate travel management, preferential merchant services and travel information and recommendations to over 20,000,000 registered members. Ctrip possesses over half of China's online travel market share.

• China's top boutique hotels now available through Ctrip

  China's famous for going big. The masses. The Great Wall. Tian'anmen Square. Impressive, yes, but sometimes, you want to go small. Have an intimate, personalized and unique travel experience that you can't have anywhere else. That's where Ctrip Boutique comes in: Now you can arrange stays at some of China's new generation of boutique hotels. Soak up the charm of a renovated hutong or shikumen courtyard room in Beijing or Shanghai. Discover that luxury and ecological consciousness can go hand-in-hand at China's first carbon-neutral urban hotel.

• Online chat

  See that button that says "Chat" on your left? If you have any questions on booking hotels, simply click to connect directly to an English-speaking customer service representative via online chat—no phones, no hassle. Your representative can answer your questions, handle service issues and guide you through the booking process. Our hotel and flight chat service is available between 9am and 6pm Beijing Time. Online chat: another way Ctrip makes your China travel experience smoother and easier. Currently available only for Microsoft Internet Explorer.

• Important! China visa rules updates

  With the Beijing Olympics approaching, China is making changes to its visa rules, especially for tourist and business visas (L and F visas, respectively). Important changes have been made regarding multiple-entry visas, L visa documentation requirements and visa fees. We know how confusing it can be to keep track of all the recent changes, especially with conflicting reports and rumors flying around the Internet. But never fear—China travel experts at ChinaTravel.net have researched all the ins & outs and created a comprehensive China visa rules summary to save you time and trouble. And check the ChinaTravel.net Passport & Visa forum for regular updates if you're applying for a visa soon.

• Ctrip DOES book international flights

  Though our English site doesn't currently support international flight booking, we pride ourselves on our extensive and affordable international flight deals. Check out our latest deals by clicking here and call our English-language call center at 400-820-6666 (extension 6) for a quote. Try us on your next vacation or trip home. We think you'll be impressed.